Masks can be incredibly effective tools to protect your health from air pollution and viruses such as COVID. But mask effectiveness and comfort can vary greatly depending on the mask. In this article, we take a look at how to choose the best mask and the factors you should consider …
Mask standards can be confusing: N95, KN95, FFP1, FFP2, P2, or surgical mask? This quick run-down of mask specifications covers mask types, mask ratings, and their effectiveness at filtering particles. First off, let’s start with mask types (or certification types). In general, there are 3 types of commonly used, disposable …
It turns out, the difference between N95 and KF94 masks is minor for the factors that most users care about. KF94 is the “Korean filter” standard similar to the US N95 mask rating. Let’s dive into the differences: N95 vs KF94 . Note, there is no “N94” or “K94” mask …
Covid-19 has led to a new surge in interest of how to clean and disinfect masks. Google searches for “wash N95 mask” and “wash KN95 mask” have sky-rocketed. Yet data-backed answers seem to be in short supply. The standard guidelines say to throw masks out and use new ones. I.e. …
With such similar-sounding names, it can be confusing to understand the difference between N95 and KN95 masks. What are KN95 masks, and are they the same as N95 masks? This handy chart explains the similarities and differences between N95 and KN95 masks. N95 vs. KN95 Comparison Chart Source: 3M – …
DIY cloth masks to protect against viruses sounds like a crazy idea. Data shows masks work incredibly well, and they’re also really cheap. Surgical masks cost a few pennies, and they’re capable of filtering out 80% of particles down to 0.007 microns (14 times smaller than COVID-19). However, the COVID-19 …
Wearing masks for hours on end has led some people to worry about whether N95 masks deprive us of oxygen. Scientists have actually made people wear N95 masks and measured their blood oxygen. So we have a solid answer to this question, and it’s not what this question assumes. This …
The difference between N95 and P2 masks is so small that most users will not notice anything amiss. The P2 rating is the standard in Australia and New Zealand similar to the US N95 mask rating. Difference Between N95 and P2 Masks: Charted Out N95 and P2 masks look …
After testing 31 masks from 19 suppliers in China, we discovered that almost half of the masks were not meeting the N95 standards for filtering particles. What’s more, out of the 17 masks that did meet the N95 standard, most of these broke when we tried some simple structural tests. …
N95 masks made from synthetic plastic fibers are most common. These plastic fibers are similar to the fibers in synthetic and polyester shirts many people wear. N95 Masks Made From Synthetic Plastic For example, let’s take the 3M 9332 masks that I wear in Beijing. Technically this is an N99 (FFP3) …
